Integrated reusable gift packaging

ABSTRACT

An environmentally conscious, integrated reusable gift packaging made from a recycled durable flexible sheet material having decorative patterns and/or coloring thereon, comprised of top and bottom panels affixed together by front and rear walls, and left and right side flaps which are affixed to the bottom panel by right and left side walls, and which are foldable to lie over the top panel. Ribbon strips are affixed to one or more of the top panel, left side flap, and right side flap to close and secure the package and provide the appearance of a conventional ribbon-wrapped gift.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 13/353,773, filed on Jan. 19, 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to reusable gift packaging for use for birthday gifts, holiday presents, and other gift occasions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, gift wrapping has involved placing the gift in a box, then wrapping the box by cutting gift wrap paper to the right size, taping it in place, and cutting and tying a ribbon around the wrapped box. Paper gift wrap is typically ripped and damaged when the gift is opened and therefore discarded after a single use. Rigid boxes are difficult to store, so they too are frequently thrown away. In some jurisdictions it is possible to recycle some of these paper and cardboard materials, but in many instances, gift wrap materials are discarded and incinerated with other garbage. Gift wrap made from virgin pulp requires the cutting of our forestland. Even gift wrap made from recycled paper must be reprocessed after each use and after approximately 5-7 cycles, it is generally no longer recyclable. Disposable gift wrap in any form, is taxing to our environment.

In addition, the process of gift wrapping can be very time consuming, particularly in large families with significant gift giving traditions.

Various reusable gift wrappings have been proposed. For example Selga, U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,144 and Hagan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,289 propose fabric gift wraps that can be fit around a gift box and secured with multiple hook and loop fasteners. Kenyon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,548 discloses an expandable sleeve that fits around a gift box. However, these prior art wrappings have generally been limited in their application to use with a gift box and consist of multiple fastenings or detachable parts.

There is a need for an environmentally conscious reusable gift wrap, that delivers the appearance of a conventionally wrapped gift, but does not require a gift box, scissors or tape. A gift wrap that is sturdy enough to hold its shape without a box, but flexible enough to be stored flat for later use. A gift wrap which is fully integrated, can be easily and inexpensively fabricated and assembled, is simple to use, and gives the wrapped gift an attractive presentation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an integrated reusable gift packaging as a replacement for a conventional gift box and disposable wrapping paper. The use of such a reusable gift packaging will reduce the need for forest products for the production of disposable gift wrapping, and reduce environmental problems associated with the incineration or single-use recycling of conventional gift wrapping materials.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a reusable gift packaging that is both attractive and functional. The reusable gift packaging of the invention requires minimal skill and only seconds to assemble. At the same time, it is economical, in that it can be reused for many years, thus eliminating the costs associated with annual gift wrap purchasing.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an integrated reusable gift packaging is made from a recycled durable flexible sheet material having decorative patterns and/or coloring thereon and comprises top and bottom panels and left and right side flaps. The top panel front end is affixed to the bottom panel front end by a front wall; the top panel rear end is affixed to the bottom panel rear end by a rear wall; the left side flap extends from the bottom panel left side by a left side wall; and the right side flap extends from the bottom panel right side by a right side wall. The flaps have rectangular shapes, or triangular or other tapered widths from their flap bases to their flap ends, which are foldable to lie over the top panel.

In the preferred embodiment, a strip of ribbon is affixed to the top panel. Left and right strips of ribbon are affixed to the left and right side flaps and extend from the flap ends. They may be tied together to form a bow, thereby securing the gift wrap package and creating the appearance of a traditional ribbon-wrapped gift.

The present invention provides an environmentally conscious, attractive, storable and reusable gift packaging that is suitable for clothing and other articles.

Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. The Summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined solely by the claims attached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top, right side and front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the integrated reusable gift packaging of the invention assembled together.

FIG. 2 is a bottom, right side and rear perspective view of the integrated reusable gift packaging of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the integrated reusable gift packaging of FIG. 1 along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1 with a gift clothing item shown in phantom outline.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the integrated reusable gift packaging of FIG. 1 along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1 with a gift clothing item shown in phantom outline.

FIG. 5 is a top, right side and front perspective view of the integrated reusable gift packaging of FIG. 1 with its ribbon untied and sides open to receive a gift therein.

FIG. 6 is a top, right side and front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the integrated reusable gift packaging of the invention assembled together.

FIG. 7 is a bottom, right side and rear perspective view of the integrated reusable gift packaging of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8A is a top, right side and front perspective view of an embodiment of an integrated reusable gift packaging of the invention with its ribbon untied and sides open to receive a gift therein.

FIG. 8B is a top, right side and front perspective view of the integrated reusable gift packaging of FIG. 8A illustrating the placement of a gift into the packaging.

FIG. 8C is a top, right side and front perspective view of the integrated reusable gift packaging of FIG. 8B with the gift placed into the packaging.

FIG. 8D is a top, right side and front perspective view of the integrated reusable gift packaging of FIG. 8C illustrating the closing of the sides of the packaging.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 shows a cardholder in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates the use of the cardholder in an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to all the FIGS., where like elements are indicated with the same element number, an integrated reusable gift packaging 10 is shown. FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 are perspective views of a preferred embodiment of an integrated reusable gift packaging 10. FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of the integrated reusable gift packaging 10 of FIG. 1 showing a gift clothing item 70 (in phantom outline) within the packaging 10. FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of an alternative embodiment of an integrated reusable gift packaging.

Gift packaging 10 comprises a top panel 20 having a front end 22 and a rear end 24; a bottom panel 26 having a front end 28 and a rear end 30, and a left side 32 and a right side 34.

The top panel front end 22 is affixed to the bottom panel front end 28. In the preferred embodiment, shown in the drawings, the top panel front end 22 is affixed to the bottom panel front end 28 by a front wall 36. In the same way, in the preferred embodiment the top panel rear end 24 is affixed to the bottom panel rear end 30 by a rear wall 38.

The bottom panel 26 has a right side flap 40 affixed to the bottom panel right side 34. In the preferred embodiment, shown in the drawings, the right side flap 40 is affixed to the bottom panel left side 34 by a right side wall 42. The right side flap 40 may have a rectangular shape 41, as seen in FIG. 6, but preferably has a tapered width from a right flap base 44 to a right flap end 46 as seen in FIG. 5. Right side flap 40 is foldable to lie over the top panel 20. In the preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 1-5, the right side flap 40 has a triangular shape, but other tapered shapes such as a semicircular shape or a truncated triangle or a truncated semicircular shape may be used.

The bottom panel 26 also has a left side flap 50 affixed to the bottom panel left side 32. In the preferred embodiment, shown in the drawings, the left side flap 50 is affixed to the bottom panel left side 32 by a left side wall 52. The left side flap 50 may have a rectangular shape 51, seen in FIG. 6, but preferably has a tapered width from a left flap base 54 to a left flap end 56 as seen in FIG. 5. Left side flap 50 is foldable to lie over the top panel 20. In the preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 1-5, the left side flap 50 has a triangular shape, but other tapered shapes such as a semicircular shape or a truncated triangle or a truncated semicircular shape may be used.

The right side flap 40 and the left side flap 50 are sized to normally lie on the top panel with the right flap end 46 near to but separated from the left flap end 56.

The above described panels, flaps, front wall, rear wall, left side wall, and right side wall may be made from any durable flexible sheet materials. It is preferable that they contain recycled content that may include but is not limited to recycled polypropylene or polyethylene materials. Preferably, the integrated reusable gift packaging 10 is made from 100% recycled materials, but it is not a necessary element of the invention that it have 100% recycled materials, and as used herein, “made from recycled materials” is defined as having a percentage of recycled materials which is sufficient to allow advertising of the product as having at least some recycled content, consistent with industry guidelines and consumer protection laws and regulations.

The sheet materials preferably are imprinted with decorative patterns and/or coloring and/or have other decorative elements and features. For example, an integrated reusable gift packaging 10 in accordance with the invention that is intended as holiday gift wrapping could be plaid, or red with white snowflakes. Birthday gift wrapping may feature a cake and candle motif In some embodiments, the sheet materials may be selected with interesting textures, for example fleece textured materials made from recycled PET might be used. The sheet materials may be either a woven fabric or a nonwoven fabric.

In manufacturing the above described panels, flaps, front wall, rear wall, left side wall, and right side wall, the components may be cut as a single piece of material which is then folded and shaped into the finished integrated reusable gift packaging 10, or they may be separately cut out and assembled together to form the reusable gift packaging 10. In order to have an attractive package, the edges where each of the panels, flaps, front wall, rear wall, left side wall, and right side wall connect to an adjoining piece should be a crisp defined line. This can be accomplished by using a heated die to shape the sheet materials into the finished gift packaging 10. In another approach, the edges may be defined by stitching or gluing, connecting together adjacent pieces to define a crisp edge. For example, the front wall, rear wall, left side wall, and right side wall may be separate pieces that are stitched to the panels creating defined edges.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the gift packaging is provided with ribbon and bow as follows. A top strip of ribbon 60 is affixed to and centered on the top panel 20 and extends from the top panel front end 22 to the top panel rear end 24. A right strip of ribbon 62, made from the same material as the top strip of ribbon 60 is affixed to and centered on the right side flap 40 and extends from the right flap base 44 to the right flap end 46 and beyond the right flap end 46. A left strip of ribbon 64, also made from the same material as the top strip of ribbon 60, is affixed to and centered on the left side flap 50 and extends from the left flap base 54 to the left flap end 56 and extends beyond the left flap end 56. The right strip of ribbon 62 and the left strip of ribbon 64 have lengths selected such that they can be tied together to form a bow 66, thereby securing the package and creating the appearance of a traditional ribbon-wrapped gift. In the preferred embodiment, ribbons 60, 62, and 64 are fabric ribbons that are colored and/or patterned to coordinate with the sheet materials used to make the panels, flaps, front wall, rear wall, left side wall, and right side wall of the packaging 10.

Desirably, ribbons 60, 62, and 64 contain at least a percentage, up to 100%, of recycled content that may include but is not limited to recycled polyethylene, cotton or other recycled fabric materials.

A further enhanced ribbon wrapped embodiment is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein the gift packaging is provided with ribbon that extends to the walls and bottom panel of packaging 10. The further enhanced ribbon wrapped embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 has the top strip of ribbon 60, a right strip of ribbon 62, and a left strip of ribbon 64, as discussed with reference to FIGS. 1-2. Additionally, top strip of ribbon 60 extends around the front, bottom and back of packaging 10. Top strip of ribbon 60 may include some or all of the additional elements: a front strip 60 a and a rear strip 60 b, and long bottom strip 60 d. In the same way, right strip 62 may include a right side strip 62 a, and left strip 64 may include a similar mirror image left side strip, and a short bottom strip 63. As with the other ribbon strips, the ribbon strips are fabric ribbons that are colored and/or patterned to coordinate with the sheet materials used to make the panels, flaps, front wall, rear wall, left side wall, and right side wall of the packaging.

In addition, the further enhanced ribbon wrapped embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 may optionally include a pre-tied bow 66 a at the end of the left strip of ribbon 64 (or alternatively, the right strip of ribbon 62), with a hook and loop fastener affixed to the underside of the bow. In this case, the fastener is mated with a hook and loop fastener on the right strip of ribbon 62 (or alternatively, the left strip of ribbon 64) to close and secure the package. Alternately, a snap fastener may be used.

An optional feature of the integrated gift packaging 10 is a cardholder 43 affixed to the top panel 20, right side flap 40, or left side flap 50. An optional cardholder is illustrated, for example, in FIG. 6 affixed to the right side flap 40. Cardholder 43 may be of any convenient shape or size appropriate to hold a small card or gift tag. Cardholder 43 is a single sheet or dual sheet pocket glued or stitched to the relevant panel or flap and may be made of the same or different materials as the panel or flap.

FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate the use of the integrated reusable gift packaging 10 of the invention with a gift clothing item 70. FIG. 8A illustrates the open integrated reusable gift packaging 10 having a gift receiving cavity 68. FIG. 8B illustrates the placement of gift clothing item 70 into the gift receiving cavity 68 of the gift packaging 10 by sideways sliding of the gift clothing item 70 into gift receiving cavity 68 through an open side of the packaging 10. FIG. 8C illustrates the gift clothing item 70 positioned in the gift receiving cavity 68. FIG. 8D illustrates the closing of right and left flaps 40, 50 to enclose the gift clothing item 70 in the gift receiving cavity 68 of packaging 10.

FIG. 9 depicts a second alternative embodiment of the invention. The second alternative embodiment of FIG. 9 has a right side flap 40, a left side flap 50, a top strip of ribbon 60, a right strip of ribbon 62, and a left strip of ribbon 64. In this embodiment, the right strip of ribbon 62 and the left strip of ribbon 64 form a closure, for example a hook and loop fastener as depicted in FIG. 9, in which the bottom surface 64 b of the left strip of ribbon 64 mates with the top surface 62 a of the right strip of ribbon 62. Alternately, a snap fastener may be used.

Embodiments of the invention may also include a cardholder affixed to the right strip of ribbon 62 or the left strip of ribbon 64. FIG. 10 depicts such a cardholder 53, removably affixed to the left strip of ribbon 64. In this embodiment, the cardholder 53 may be affixed to the integrated gift packaging by threading the left strip of ribbon 64 through the cardholder before fastening the ribbons together. To that purpose, a loop 53 a may be formed in the cardholder 53 with sufficient size to accommodate the left strip of ribbon 64. The loop 53 a may be formed as two slits formed in the body of cardholder 53, or as a separate element attached to the cardholder 53, similar to a belt loop.

FIG. 11 illustrates the use of the cardholder 53 in an embodiment of the invention. A card 53 b may be inserted into the cardholder 53. To that purpose, a pocket 53 c may be formed in the cardholder 53 with sufficient size to accommodate the card 53 b. The cardholder 53 may then be affixed to the integrated gift packaging by threading the left strip of ribbon 64 through the loop 53 a formed in the cardholder 53 (shown on the underside of cardholder 53 in FIG. 11). The card 53 b may be also inserted into the cardholder 53 after the cardholder has been affixed to the integrated gift packaging.

The present invention accordingly provides an integrated reusable gift packaging that is durable and attractive. It is easy to use, easy to store and has the ability to greatly reduce the waste generated by traditional paper gift wrapping. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An integrated reusable gift packaging, comprising: a top panel having a front end and a rear end; a bottom panel having a front end and a rear end and a right side and a left side; the top panel front end being affixed to the bottom panel front end by a front wall; the top panel rear end being affixed to the bottom panel rear end by a rear wall; the bottom panel having a left side flap affixed to the bottom panel left side by a left side wall; the left side flap being foldable to lie over the top panel; the bottom panel having a right side flap affixed to the bottom panel right side by a right side wall; the right side flap being foldable to lie over the top panel; the panels, flaps, front wall, rear wall, left side wall, and right side wall defining a gift receiving cavity; the panels, flaps, front wall, rear wall, left side wall, and right side wall being made from durable flexible sheet materials; a left strip affixed to the left side flap; a right strip affixed to the right side flap; a first fastener affixed to one of the left strip and the right strip; and a second fastener affixed to the other one of the left strip and the right strip, the second fastener mating with the first fastener, thereby securing the gift wrap package.
 2. The integrated reusable gift packaging of claim 1, further comprising one or more of the following affixed to the package: a strip on the top panel, a front strip, a rear strip, a left side strip, and a right side strip.
 3. The integrated reusable gift packaging of claim 1, wherein the panels walls and flaps are made from a woven or non-woven fabric.
 4. The integrated reusable gift packaging of claim 1, wherein the panels, walls and flaps are made from recycled material.
 5. The integrated reusable gift packaging of claim 1, wherein the strips are made from recycled material.
 6. The integrated reusable gift packaging of claim 1, further comprising a cardholder affixed to one of the left strip and the right strip.
 7. The integrated reusable gift packaging of claim 6, wherein the cardholder is affixed to the one of the left strip and the right strip by threading said one of the left strip and the right strip through the cardholder.
 8. The integrated reusable gift packaging of claim 7, wherein the cardholder comprises a loop for threading said one of the left strip and the right strip through the cardholder.
 9. The integrated reusable gift packaging of claim 8, wherein the loop is formed as two slits in the cardholder.
 10. The integrated reusable gift packaging of claim 8, wherein the loop is formed as a separate element attached to the cardholder.
 11. The integrated reusable gift packaging of claim 6, wherein the cardholder comprises a pocket for containing a card.
 12. The integrated reusable gift packaging of claim 1, wherein the first fastener and the second fastener form a hook and loop fastener.
 13. The integrated reusable gift packaging of claim 1, wherein the first fastener and the second fastener form a snap fastener.
 14. The integrated reusable gift packaging of claim 1, wherein the left strip and the right strip are made of ribbon.
 15. The integrated reusable gift packaging of claim 1, wherein the left strip and the right strip are made of fabric. 